Skip to comments.
TGIF Rock-n-Roll Oldies: THE CARS - 1984/85
Reaganite Republican ^
| July 1, 2011
| Reaganite Republican
Posted on 07/01/2011 9:33:50 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican
The Cars were a trailblazing pop band who's beat-and-guitar driven rock n roll added synthesizers in a way that created a foundation for the 80s New Wave scene that was to come.
The first album -1978's The Cars- was a smash hit for the Boston-based group that promptly went platinum. That debut has been lauded as a "genuine rock masterpiece" by allmusic, with songs such as "Just What I Needed" "Best Friend's Girl"
"Let the Good Times Roll", and "Bye Bye Love".
After six albums and four Top Ten hits in the US, the band broke up in 1988. Sadly, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr -a close friend to fellow Cars founder Ric Ocasek- passed away far too young in 2000. Following that, Ocasek often said there would never be a Cars reunion, so by 2005 guitarist Elliott Easton and keyboard player Greg Hawkes instead hooked-up with Todd Rundgren and Kashim Sultan (fmr Meat Loaf/Rundgren's Utopia) to form a cleverly-named spin-off band -The New Cars- who toured with classic Cars and Rundgren tunes in addition to some new collaborative compositions.
But as overplayed as they were for so long, The Cars are still one of the few bands it's hard to tire of hearing, at least in my case. The epitome of power pop... what originality and fun!
If you're a rock fan that can somehow manage to be unhappy when The Cars are playing there's something seriously wrong with you.
Myself, I'll always hold them dear, as this band really made that first summer with my Camaro in '79... couldn't play them loud enough, or often enough.
The Cars also ruled MTV in that era, with hugely popular videos like "You Might Think I'm Crazy", which specifically won Video of the Year honors on the cable music channel.
Band leader Ric Ocasek -son of a NASA engineer- also appeared in Jon Waters' cult film Hairspray, has put out a number of solo albums, and today produces bands such as Weezer and No Doubt. He has been married to the ever-lovely Paulina Porizkova for over 20 years, who he met on the set while shooting the video for "Drive" in 1984, in which the supermodel starred. (clip below).
But to the surprise of many, just last month a new Cars album
-the first in 24 years- was released. Seems that Mr Ocasek had a change of heart last year, and the surviving members began practicing and composing for a new album: Move Like This.
It's been met with a decent critical reception, if not commercially. I myself have only heard one track -Sad Song- really not bad at all, though- and real Cars all the way, right down to the hand claps. The band is touring again, too... dates -here-
Let the good times roll indeed- remember when bands actually had some sense of humor and sang fun songs about cool cars and beautiful women? What a contrast to most of the caustic rubbish you hear today. Who needs angry pierced-n-stamped 'outcasts' like Pink or Eminem whining about their childhood and what victims they are? To hell with them, if I want to get depressed I'll listen to George Jones-
The Cars: Tonight She Comes - 1985
The Cars: Drive - 1984
Links/video/more at Reaganite Republican
_______________________________________________________
Have a great weekend, FReeper patriots... and may God Bless America
_______________________________________________________
TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Miscellaneous; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; cars; eighties; oldies; pimpmyblog; repeatoffender; rock; usualsuspect
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-57 next last
To: Zeneta
LOL my 13 year old daughter loves the song
"Dancing in the Moonlight" by Alyson Stoner. I told her that she was singing a remake of a song that came out when I was 10 years old. I pulled up a YouTube video of the King Harvest version and she seemed to like the original version better!
21
posted on
07/01/2011 10:41:23 AM PDT
by
FortWorthPatriot
(Obama is no Hitler; Hitler got the Olympics)
To: FortWorthPatriot
Parenting is so much fun !!!!
22
posted on
07/01/2011 10:44:19 AM PDT
by
Zeneta
(Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
To: JennysCool
I downloaded their new album from Amazon a few weeks ago. I was actually surprised how much I did like it.
23
posted on
07/01/2011 10:46:25 AM PDT
by
VeniVidiVici
(Join the AFL-CIO. The Communist Party needs new blood.)
To: Zeneta
Yes. Yes, it is. And I love every minute of it. :)
I think the best thing from this is she appears to have taste in music similar to mine. I’ve already got her singing “Carry On Wayward Son” - she loves the “don’t you cry no more” line.
24
posted on
07/01/2011 10:49:01 AM PDT
by
FortWorthPatriot
(Obama is no Hitler; Hitler got the Olympics)
To: AngelesCrestHighway
This is the "strike a pose" I think she is looking for.
It's from the "Legs" video, but I know there is a close up from maybe another video.
25
posted on
07/01/2011 10:49:01 AM PDT
by
Zeneta
(Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
To: FortWorthPatriot
It’s so cool.
“Don’t you cry no more”
That has got to break your heart.
It does mine.
26
posted on
07/01/2011 10:55:41 AM PDT
by
Zeneta
(Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
To: Reaganite Republican
27
posted on
07/01/2011 10:58:40 AM PDT
by
manic4organic
(We won. Get over it.)
To: FortWorthPatriot
What was amazing for me was when she started telling me about certain songs and bands that she found on her own.
Blue oyster cult, for example. one of my favorite bands growing up that I NEVER played for her.
My daughter is so much like me it’s scary.
28
posted on
07/01/2011 11:02:34 AM PDT
by
Zeneta
(Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
To: Reaganite Republican
Great news!
I still have my Cars albums and occasionally hook up the turntable and listen the old fashioned way, snaps, pops and all. I’ll have to check Amazon tonight for the new album.
Ping to myself.
29
posted on
07/01/2011 11:10:14 AM PDT
by
dangerdoc
(see post #6)
To: FortWorthPatriot
I too graduated in 1980 and remember hearing Lets Go for the first thinking That is a kick-ass song. I have loved The Cars ever since.Here's a great version from "The Midnight Special" TV show circa. 1979.
Let's Go
I didn't realize Orr provided the vocals on this one as well.
To: Reaganite Republican
The video at the link is CLASSIC. Thanks.
31
posted on
07/01/2011 11:16:49 AM PDT
by
chemicalman
(The more support I see,the harder I want to work,and the more determined I am not to let folks down.)
To: Reaganite Republican
Wow. Reading “oldies” and “The Cars” in the same sentence really makes me feel ... old.
32
posted on
07/01/2011 11:19:33 AM PDT
by
al_c
(http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
To: Reaganite Republican
The Cars? Oldies?
Crap. I’m old.
Does this stuff sound to my kid the way Buddy Holly did to me when I was his age?
33
posted on
07/01/2011 11:21:31 AM PDT
by
FLAMING DEATH
(Are you better off than you were $4 trillion ago?)
To: al_c
You beat me to it.
RE: Post 32
34
posted on
07/01/2011 11:23:00 AM PDT
by
FLAMING DEATH
(Are you better off than you were $4 trillion ago?)
To: Reaganite Republican
Cars' lead guitarist Elliot Easton posts frequently over at the
Les Paul Forum where he's just a regular dude who loves Gibson guitars and happened to have enjoyed some success in the music business a long time ago.
To: Zeneta
My 19 year old daughter just now told ME, to check out ZZ Top, La Grange.They got a lot o' nice girls there.
Truer words were never spoken. I married my bride in La Grange in 1992. And before anyone asks .... no, not at the Chicken Ranch. ;-)
36
posted on
07/01/2011 11:23:52 AM PDT
by
al_c
(http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
To: al_c
My daughter is still a VIRGIN.
I think
37
posted on
07/01/2011 11:26:25 AM PDT
by
Zeneta
(Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
To: FLAMING DEATH
You beat me to it.Yep ... I guess we're old. Dang, when did that happen?!
38
posted on
07/01/2011 11:26:29 AM PDT
by
al_c
(http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
To: Zeneta
Congrats! What’s your secret? I’m raising two daughters.
39
posted on
07/01/2011 11:27:35 AM PDT
by
al_c
(http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
To: al_c
Fear ?
Trust.
Truth.
Honor.
I think I’m very very lucky.
I need to go and thank God right now.
40
posted on
07/01/2011 11:30:26 AM PDT
by
Zeneta
(Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-57 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson